A great interest in Arts led former Miss USA Olivia Jordan to head to Tulsa. She said, “I fear I took it for granted in a way because I can’t think of a time in my life when the arts weren’t a part of my life,” the former Miss USA said.
“It was just an integral part of my childhood - going with my parents to visit the museums, taking art classes at Philbrook, going to shows at the Performing Arts Center.
“And the schools I went to - Monte Cassino and Bishop Kelley - both had great music and art classes,” she said. “So it was all around me, and I know it pushed me into pursuing a creative life of my own.”
The beauty will be in Tulsa this weekend as the keynote speaker of the Arts Alliance Tulsa “Play Your Part” Brunch, one of the important fundraising efforts of the city’s united arts fund. The event will also recognize some of the volunteers who add their talent and time to the member organization.
“I have to admit, being asked to do this came as a huge surprise,” Jordan said.
“Writing the speech I’m going to give has been a real challenge because you never think you’ve done anything profound that needs to be shared. So I plan to talk about my own journey, about what it means to me to be an artist working in a creative industry, and on a more broad level, about how the arts have impacted and enriched my life.” She said. Jordan has just finished filming her first major movie role, a suspense drama with the working title of “Attraction.”
The stunner acknowledged that winning the Miss USA title has been at once a help and an obstruction to her career. “There is a huge stereotype associated with the pageant world that you have to overcome,” she said. “There was a top film producer that my agent had been trying for a long time to arrange a meeting, but he kept saying he didn’t have the time. Then, when I was Miss USA, he wanted to meet — although the first thing he said was, ‘I just don’t understand this pageant thing — it’s got nothing to do with acting.’
“On the other hand, there are those who appreciate the accomplishment, who realize that you’re someone who’s willing to work hard and do what’s necessary to accomplish something,” Jordan said.
Olivia Jordan from Oklahoma was crowned Miss USA 2015 at the finale held on July 12’ 2015 at Baton Rouge. Olivia represented USA at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant and was adjudged second runner-up.